Speedboat Restoration

A

anglersam

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
31
Re: Speedboat Restoration

I went to B&Q yesterday, to look at the plywood, and they appear to have exterior grade for less than £10 for a 6x2' sheet. I would plan to screw it as opposed to epoxying it but would I have to waterproof it was well?<br />Thanks,<br />Anglersam :)
 
R

Rudderman

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 14, 2004
Messages
283
Re: Speedboat Restoration

Anglersam, you need to:<br /><br />1. Pick a boat design that you want to make (get a plan somewhere.<br />2. Find out how it all goes together. Try to imagine in your head how you would do each step.<br />3. Write down a list of materials you will need, including the thickness of the plywood, what glue you need and what screws or nails you need.<br />4. Ring Robbins Timber and ask them for prices for what you need.<br /><br />I would stay away from the B & Q stuff. Not very good quality, from what I've seen.<br /><br />If you think all this is gonna be too complicated, you may be as well trying to find an old fibreglass boat to fix up. Some of those old hulls just need a lick of paint to spruce them up a bit. You can always build your own boat later when you get a bit more experienced with wood.
 
R

Rudderman

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 14, 2004
Messages
283
Re: Speedboat Restoration

You could try visiting some local boat yards or marinas or places that sell outboard engines and ask them if they have anything suitable. Most places have a hull or two lying around, you may even get a trailer with it.<br />You could put a "wanted" ad in a local free ads newspaper.<br />There are lots of places that you can phone up and ask if they have anything. I'm sure that you'd find something! I found these at yell.com>>>>>><br /><br />One Stop Chandlery Tel: 01245 380680 <br />The Boat House, The Street, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 2EQ<br /><br />M & C Diesel Services Tel: 01206 231808 <br />Unit 15 B & C, Lodge Lane, Langham, Colchester, Essex CO4 5NE<br /><br />Tollesbury Saltings Ltd Tel: 01621 868624 <br />The Sail Lofts, Woodrolfe Rd, Tollesbury, Maldon, Essex CM9 8SE<br /><br />L.H Morgan & Sons (Marine) Ltd Tel: 01206 302003<br />The Boat Yard, Ship Yard Estate, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex CO7 0AR<br /><br />Brightlingsea Boat Park & Ride Tel: 01206 304747<br />Shipyard Estate, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex CO7 0AR<br /><br />Marine Maintenance Ltd Tel: 01621 860441 <br />Marine House, Woodrolfe Rd, Tollesbury, Maldon, Essex CM9 8SE<br /><br />Basildon Jet Ski Centre Tel: 01268 525222 <br />Unit 4, Paycocke Close, Basildon, Essex SS14 3HS<br /><br />Hamilton Marine Tel: 01621 850547 <br />Cromwell Farm, Cromwell Lane, Maldon, Essex CM9 4LB<br /><br />Mikes Boatyard Ltd Tel: 01702 713151<br />High St, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex SS9 2EN<br /><br />Boat Shop The Tel: 01708 523016<br />223, Upminster Rd South, Rainham, Essex RM13 9BB<br /> <br />Nucleus Watersports Tel: 01255 812146<br />204, Frinton Rd, Holland-on-Sea, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 5SP<br /><br />Boating Mania Ltd Tel: 01708 226909<br />42-46, Lichfield Terrace, Upminster, Essex RM14 3JX<br /><br />Seacraft Tel: 01702 713152 <br />17, High St, Oldleigh, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex SS9 2EN<br /><br />South Woodham Marine Ltd Tel: 01245 324241<br />35, Hulbridge Rd, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 5NG<br /><br />I.B.S Boats International Ltd Tel: 01245 425551<br />63, Cutlers Rd,Saltcoats Ind Est, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 5WA
 
P

petrolhead

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Messages
614
Re: Speedboat Restoration

I agree, you won't find any useable timber at B&Q or any of the big DIY chain stores, and less than £10 (£9.99?) for a sheet of 6 x 2 is expensive! <br />Apart from 6 x 2 being too small a sheet to work with, a full sheet (8 x 4) of marine ply from Marineply.com is only £17.17, that works out less than half the price per square foot of B&Qs exterior ply. I'd call that a real no-brainer, real marine ply for less than half the cost of inferior quality exterior ply!<br />Even by the time you've paid the delivery fee you'd probably still be quids in.
 
A

anglersam

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
31
Re: Speedboat Restoration

OK, Thanks, I have measured the width of my garage.... 6ft and I can't have it lengthwise becuause the car's in there.. so, I must find a plan that's for a small rowing boat 6ft long. I have had a quick scoot around... to find nothing. Please can you also have a look as I can't see anything.<br />Thanks
 
P

petrolhead

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Messages
614
Re: Speedboat Restoration

Hmm, things have changed a bit, we've gone from restoring a speedboat to building a 6 foot rowing boat!<br />Can I just ask, where did you think you were going to work on restoring a speedboat if you only have 6 feet of garage space, or were you going to wait for spring and do it outdoors?<br />I think THIS One Sheet Skiff may be a little bigger than 6 feet, but it's a free plan, it's very simple and cheap, and it has a good step by step pictorial construction guide.
 
P

petrolhead

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Messages
614
Re: Speedboat Restoration

Sam have you seen THIS?<br /><br />I don't know what his reserve is (may be worth asking) but it looks very tidy and could be just what you are after.<br />If your original budget was up to £450 not including the motor this could be affordable, it comes with a motor which would have cost you at least another £200, probably a bit more.<br />It also comes with a trailer, which has to be another £200 worth if it's any good.
 
M

mikemartyo

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
37
Re: Speedboat Restoration

I may have an answer to your problems - how about an 8' rowboat that you can make into a sail boat?<br />www.instantboats.com check out the elegant punt http://www.instantboats.com/epunt.htm <br />I built this last yr from 2 sheets of 1/4 inch plywood, 16 1x2x8' pieces of cheap lumber and a large bottle of gorilla glue.<br />it took about 40-50 hours and i painted it with exterior house paint.<br />i spent less than $100 on it (someone gave me oars)<br />it is pretty fun to play with, my kids like to ride in it, and you can easily catch fish.<br />it gave me some good experience with building the boat, and it is small enough i built the whole thing in the basement and carried it out the door for sanding and painting.<br />check it out - you can always sell it as a dingy when you decide to move up.
 
A

anglersam

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
31
Re: Speedboat Restoration

For some reason, my Dad is now saying that he will only have a boat that will go in the BACK of our car... A Ford Escort with the seats down! (4'x3') This clearly is NOT going to work, so I have come to you wise people for advice on inflatable boats of some sort perhaps thisInflatable Boat ?<br />Please could you give me some advice, as I can get a complete package from Bullnet for about £30! delivered!!.<br />Please can you advise me on if this looks good,<br />Anglersam
 
A

anglersam

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
31
Re: Speedboat Restoration

Has anyone got any experience with the SeaHawk line of inflatables.. please can you tell me about stability etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top